AP Won’t Attend Holder’s Off-Record Briefing

The Associated Press is the latest major news outlet to inform President Obama’s Department of Justice that they will not be participating in an off-the-record briefing on how Eric Holder’s team deals with journalists who work with leakers.

The announcement came about an hour after the New York Times declined participation as well.

Politico reports:

“We believe the meeting should be on the record and we have said that to the Attorney General’s office. If it is on the record, AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll will attend. If it is not on the record, AP will not attend and instead will offer our views on how the regulations should be updated in an open letter,” AP spokesperson Erin Madigan said in a statement sent to POLITICO. “We would expect AP attorneys to be included in any planned meetings between the Attorney General’s office and media lawyers on the legal specifics.”